VBMR-L Serval
| VBMR-L Serval | |
|---|---|
A VBMR-L Serval (May 2022) | |
| Type | Multirole armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2022 - present |
| Used by | France |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Nexter(now KNSD France) Texelis |
| Designed | 2018 - 2021 |
| Manufacturer | KNDS France Texelis |
| Unit cost | Serval VPB (standard): €1.2 million (FY2021) |
| Produced | 2021 - present |
| No. built | 189 units as of 31 December 2023 |
| Variants | Armoured patrol, ISTAR, communications relay, electronic warfare, and associated subvariants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 17 tonnes |
| Length | 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Crew | 2 (driver + gunner) |
| Passengers | 8 |
| Armour | STANAG 4569 Level 4 (standard) Additional modular armour kits (optional) |
Main armament | |
Secondary armament |
|
| Engine | Militarized Cummins 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine 375 hp (280 kW) |
| Transmission | Allison 3000 Series automatic gearbox |
| Suspension | Four-wheel drive |
Operational range | 600 km (370 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
The Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger Serval (English: Lightweight Multirole Armoured Vehicle Serval) or VBMR-L Serval is also intended as a replacement for the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB), thus complementing the heavy VBMR Griffon. Weighing in at 17 tonnes in combat order, the Serval is roughly 25% heavier than the VAB. Four-wheeled and designed to operate in areas of contact with the enemy, the vehicle is particularly maneuverable and will primarily equip infantry units of light brigades such as the 11th Airborne Brigade and 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade.
The contract for the vehicle's development was awarded in February 2018 to Nexter and Texelis. 489 units are expected to be delivered by 2025 and 978 by 2030. Beyond the 978 Serval to be acquired through the SCORPION programme, 1,060 additional Serval vehicles are to be ordered under the VLTP-P segment haut programme and delivered by 2035. The latter are expected to be deployed within the land forces to reinforce the support and back-up resources of SCORPION units.